Presidential bid a good idea: Kalam

Former president APJ Abdul Kalam, who is being supported by the Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party for a second stint at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, on Friday said he will take a final call on it later.

New Delhi: Former president APJ Abdul Kalam, who is being supported by the Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party for a second stint at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, on Friday praised those backing him but said he will take a final call on it later.

“To seek a second term as President is a good idea but I will speak my mind when time is correct,” Kalam told reporters.

His reaction came hours ahead of a lunch being hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in his honour today.

Interestingly, Nitish Kumar, whose invitation to Kalam for lunch has added a fresh twist to the race for Raisina, yesterday went to the Patna airport to welcome him.
The Bihar Chief Minister’s Janata Dal (U) is a crucial constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) which is set to meet at 11 am today at party veteran LK Advani’s residence to decide on the upcoming Presidential Election.

Although Nitish has said that the NDA will take a final call on who will be their Presidential candidate, the ‘lunch’ thrown by him in the honour of the former president has triggered speculation that he may back him as president.

Interestingly, the JD(U) had yesterday reacted cautiously to Kalam`s prospects as President, saying that it wasn`t sure if a second term for the eminent scientist would set a healthy precedent.
The party, though, made it clear that it would want the NDA to take a joint decision.

JD (U) leader and NDA convenor Sharad Yadav today said, "Nitish-Kalam lunch should not be politicised. NDA will take a final call on the issue," he said adding, "The BJP-led alliance was waiting for the Congress-led UPA to make its choice public before it considered its options."